What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 9am - 6pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm

Blue Rein Ranch Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy

Home
Canada
Fort Macleod, AB
Blue Rein Ranch Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy

Counselling and Animal Assisted Therapy for a variety of mental health issues: anxiety, depression,

At Blue Rein Ranch, we are committed to helping clients discover their true potential. Our process is a three way partnership involving the client, the animals, and a certified mental health therapist. If you experience elevated levels of anxiety, have experienced a traumatic life event, are dealing with a life transition, or anything that is causing you stress, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) may b

e just what you need. We provide counselling that goes beyond the traditional office therapy. We also provide therapeutic riding for clients who would simply like to spend time with our wonderful animals.

06/04/2026

3 signs animal-assisted therapy might help you 🐴💙😊

1. You feel numb or disconnected in regular talk therapy.
2. Anxiety shows up in your body more than your thoughts.
3. You connect better with animals than people right now.

If that’s you, you’re not broken. Your system just needs a different way in.
Save this for later. Share it with someone who might need it.

06/03/2026

Here’s what actually happens in animal-assisted therapy:

1. The horse responds to your nervous system before you even say a word.
2. We use that feedback to practice grounding, boundaries, and emotional awareness.
3. You leave with skills you can use off the ranch.

It’s clinical. It’s intentional. And it works for people who feel stuck in talk therapy. What’s the biggest misconception you’ve heard about therapy? Comment below.

Marv VdHoek

06/02/2026

I’m Marvin Vandenhoek, M.C., C.C.
Mental Health Therapist. Born and raised in Southern Alberta.

I grew up around animals, and over 10+ years I’ve seen firsthand how they cut through the noise and get to what matters.

Animal-assisted therapy isn’t about “petting horses.” It’s about using the horse’s presence to work on anxiety, trauma, regulation, and trust in real time.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a traditional office setting, this might be different.
Drop a “👋” if you’re new here. I’ll reply.

06/01/2026

30 days.
So much mud. So many breakthroughs. 🤍

Thank you for being here this month. For commenting, sharing, and letting me tell these stories.

Healing happens in community. Whether you’re in Fort Macleod or following from far away, you’re part of ours now.

What was your favorite moment from this month? Tell me below so I know what to make more of.

And if this month made you think “I need this”... tomorrow’s post is for you.

RanchTherapy HealingJourney ThankYou RecapReel

—

06/01/2026

As you may know, I took over this page. I started one month ago and plan to continue. After 30 days of stories, here’s what I know:

People are hungry for real, not perfect.
Animals make the hardest conversations feel possible.
Healing in rural Alberta needs to look different. And that’s okay.

My mission: Make mental health support accessible, non-clinical, and human on the ranch.

What’s next:
Summer therapy sessions for youth/adults open June 15
School + org partnerships for fall booking now
1:1 consults for parents wondering “would this help my kid?”

If any part of this month resonated... if you saw yourself or someone you love in these stories... my DMs are open.

No pitch. Just a conversation about whether the ranch might be a fit.

Comment “RANCH” or DM me “INFO” and I’ll send you details.

Thank you for 30 days of trust. The gate’s open 🤍 Erica

05/31/2026

Sunday Morning on the Ranch

EquineTherapy Calm MentalHealthMatters Grounding AlbertaRanch

05/29/2026

Ranch therapy myth: “It must be cancelled when it’s gross out.”

Reality: Some of our best sessions happen in the rain ☔

Why?
1️⃣ Regulation practice: Life doesn’t pause for bad weather. We learn to find calm in the uncomfortable.
2️⃣ Sensory input: The sound of rain on a metal roof is incredibly grounding for some clients.
3️⃣ Metaphor city: “Sometimes you have to walk through the storm to get to the barn.”

We have an indoor arena + heated barn. We have extra boots. We have hot tea.

Healing doesn’t take a snow day. Neither do we.

Unless it’s actual lightning. Then we reschedule 😂 Safety first.

What’s your favorite “bad weather” memory? 👇

RealLifeTherapy RanchTherapy MentalHealth AlbertaWeather NoSnowDays

05/27/2026

Words like this are why we do the muddy, early, hard work.

This mom tried 3 therapists before us. Her daughter had full shutdown in office settings.

Week 1 at the ranch: She stood 20 feet from Stardust behind a fence.
Week 4: She was braiding her mane, talking about school.
Week 8: “Can we come even when I’m having a good week?”

Animals bypass the defenses. They make therapy approachable.

If your kid or teen is “therapy resistant,” it might not be them. It might be the setting.

We’ve got a few summer session spots opening in June. DM me “INFO” if you want details. No pressure, just info.

Shared with permission

Hope RanchTherapy EquineTherapy ParentSupport AlbertaFamilies

—

05/27/2026

“No, the pony isn’t just cute”

MYTH: “It’s just petting animals”
REALITY: We’re targeting specific treatment goals

MYTH: “The animals do all the work”
REALITY: I’m facilitating + clinically trained

MYTH: “It’s only for kids”
REALITY: 60% of our clients are adults

MYTH: “One session and you’re healed”
REALITY: It’s a process. Just like any therapy.

The animals are co-therapists, not the whole show. The magic is in the relationship between us, me, and them.

Still think it’s “just cute”? Come see for yourself.

EquineTherapy GoatTherapy ProfessionalTherapy RealTalk MentalHealthEducation

Address

Fort Macleod, AB

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

+14038947302

Website

http://bluereinranch.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Blue Rein Ranch Counselling & Animal Assisted Therapy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Business
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your business to be the top-listed Food & Beverage Service in Fort Macleod?

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

05/31/2026

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category